Asymmetric inductive band

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes an asymmetric inductive band that preferably has a conductor affixed from a first edge of a conductor substrate and looped across said substrate. A first and a second section of the conductor preferably is formed having “hairpin-like” features at some or all intermediate endpoints, or pivot locations, at discrete points along the length thereof. In addition, the first and the second section are arranged in an asymmetric relation to each other and, in general, each, of the hairpin-like features do not preferably directly oppose another of said features. The hairpins are preferably connected by a sawtooth shaped conductor that also contributes to the change in self-inductance when stretched, in addition to the apex, or hairpin, shape of the conductor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of respiration monitoring. In particular, the present invention is directed to an improved inductive band for indirectly measuring the expansion and contraction of the circumference of a subject, and determining the volume and rate of respiration of that subject.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many different types of inductive bands have been invented and used over the past several decades. Inductive vests and other transducers for converting breathing to quantifiable signals have also been developed. Some bands are designed to fully encircle a subject around the thorax and/or abdomen and others to partially encircle the subject.

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,625 teaches the use of enclosed, symmetrical top and bottom windings closely juxtaposed in an inductive band which has substantially enclosed areas throughout. U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,830 discloses the use of alternating active and inactive segments on an inductive band, wherein the active segments form substantially enclosed areas.

[0004] A need exists in the art for a more sensitive inductive transducer band that is readily adjustable and compact among other needs in the art for inductive transducer bands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to an asymmetric inductive band that preferably comprises a conductor affixed from a first edge of a conductor substrate and looped across said substrate. A first and a second section of the conductor preferably are formed having “hairpin-like” features at some and/or all intermediate endpoints, or pivots, at several locations along the length thereof. In addition, the first and the second sections are arranged in an asymmetric relation to each other and, in general, each of the hairpin-like features preferably do not directly oppose another of the hairpin-like features.

[0006] The following are advantages and/or engineering considerations resulting from the “hairpin” features, or any other features of the conductor or band. The main advantage over existing designs is that the hairpin feature is more sensitive, particularly when the band excursions from a non-distended position are small. When the band is not stretched, the adjacent conductors of the “hairpin” shape are almost touching, so even a slight extension of the band will increase the gap in the “hairpin”, causing a relatively large change in self-inductance compared with existing shapes. The change in inductance is measured by an electronic circuit to which the inductive respiratory band is connected, as is known and used in the art.

[0007] The return winding (bottom half of the conductor) has the same pattern as the top but is shifted so that the hairpin features on the return winding do not directly oppose the hairpin features on the top winding. This configuration has the desirable properties of increasing the number of hairpins on the conductor which, in turn, increases the sensitivity of the conductor to even very small changes in the subject's circumference.

[0008] The hairpins are connected by a sawtooth shaped conductor that also contributes to the change in self-inductance when stretched, in addition to the apex, or hairpin, shape of the conductor. In practice, the sawtooth shape provides room for the hairpin from the opposing conductor winding. In fact, the preferred configuration of the conductor of the present invention exhibits an overlapping juxtaposition, or relation, between the apex, or hairpin, features along a central longitudinal axis of the elongate distensible band that supports both portions of the elongate conductor.

[0009] The asymmetric inductive band according to the present invention is fastened to a distensible backing material that preferably encircles only a portion of the chest or abdomen of a human subject. A strap (or straps) of non-distensible material is attached to the distensible material so as to encircle the subject. The band is connected to a preferably toroidal-shaped impedance matching transformer (which is also attached to the distensible material) and by two other conductors to an electronics circuit which converts inductance changes in the asymmetric inductive band to a voltage signal which is proportional to the change in length of the distensible band as a subject ventilates or inhales and exhales, and therefore is proportional to the change in circumference of the subject and thus the volume (and rate of) respiration of the subject. Such electronics circuits are known and used in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a portion of the conductor embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, with the conductor in a non-distended state.

[0012]FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the conductor embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, with the conductor in a distended state.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing an example of the stitching pattern used to make the inductive band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0014] The present invention is directed to an asymmetric inductive band 10 as shown in FIG. 1 for use in measuring respiration of a subject. An asymmetric inductive band 10 according to the present invention preferably comprises an elongate conductor 20 having a first portion 12 and a second portion 14 disposed on a substrate of distensible material 30. Said distensible material is preferably mechanically coupled to a length of non-distensible material 40, or, more typically, a belt having a fastener, buckle, hook and loop patch material, a pair of interlocking snaps, a portion of friction fitting material, a knot, a button, a cleat, a length of stitching, an adhesive, a zipper and the like for coupling the distensible material 30 to the non-distensible material 40 to encircle a portion of the torso, thorax and/or abdomen of a subject during use.

[0015] The present invention may consist of simply the elongate conductor as taught herein with any backing material or substrate, transformer or other additional components either eliminated or disposed remotely from but in electrical communication with the elongate conductor. In this embodiment or form of the present invention, either a first portion or a second potion (or both portions) may fully encircle the subject or may encircle only a portion of the subject and may be coupled to remote electronic circuitry 24 via a wireless transceiver or other telemetry pair such as infrared, UV, or other frequency or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.

[0016] In use, an optional liner or layers of liner materials may be added to protect the inductive band transducer and/or to render same more comfortable to the subject. The conductor 20 may be affixed to the distensible substrate 30 with adhesive, wire, stitching, or retained in pockets or otherwise constrained by features of the distensible substrate 30.

[0017] The conductor 20 may be fabricated from any electrically conducting metal, composite material, alloy, resin-based material, polymer or may be made of trace materials embedded into the distensible substrate 30 as long as the material conducts electricity sufficiently to produce signals susceptible of accurate measurement. Preferably, the conductor 20 is insulated using conventional wire insulation. In one preferred embodiment, when the conductor is in the non-distended state, legs 25A and 25B of each hairpin 25 are separated only by the insulation.

[0018] Advantages or engineering considerations resulting from a series of “hairpin” (or apex) features 25, or any other features of the conductor or band 20 include the following. The main advantage of such features 25 over existing designs is that they are more sensitive, particularly when the band excursions from a non-distended state are small, that is, when the distensible material 30 is stretched only slightly and the conductor 20 thus creates a signal, thereof. When the distensible band 30 is not stretched, the adjacent portions 12 and 14 of the conductor 20, and in particular, the hairpin features 25, are almost touching, so even a slight extension of the band 30 will increase the gap between each leg 25A and 25B of each hairpin feature 25, causing a relatively large change in self-inductance compared with existing and prior inductive bands.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, each leg portion 25A or 25B of hairpin feature 25 may be oriented in a parallel or in a slightly divergent orientation relative to the other leg portion. The apex feature 27 of each hairpin feature 25 is preferably semi-circular, shaped as the letter “C” having a more or less common radius. When the conductor 20 is distended, the leg portions 25A and 25B of the hairpin features 25 assume more of the slightly divergent orientation. As is known and used in the art, the change in inductance resulting from the extension of the distensible material 30 that moves the conductor 20 is typically and preferably measured by a remote electronic circuit 24 to which inductive respiratory band 10 is connected. The remote electronic circuit 24 typically includes an oscillator to generate a band excitation or carrier signal and a frequency-to-voltage converter or AM demodulator to convert changes in inductance due to band distention from the original configuration into a voltage which can be recorded or measured.

[0020] The return winding 14 of the conductor 20 (i.e., the bottom portion of the conductor 20 as depicted in FIG. 1) preferably has the same pattern as the top portion 12, or outbound winding, but is shifted relative to the top portion 12 so that the hairpin features 25 do not clash or contact one another. This embodiment has the desirable properties of increasing the number of hairpin features 25 and therefore the sensitivity of the inductive band to even small changes in the subject's circumference. The hairpin features 25 of the present invention are connected by a sawtooth shaped intermediate sections 35 of the conductor 20, and these intermediate sections 35 also contribute to the change in self-inductance when stretched. In practice, the sawtooth shape provides room for the hairpin features 25 from the opposing portions 12 and 14 of the conductor winding 20.

[0021] The conductor 20 may be integrated into the distensible substrate 30 and may be affixed to or woven into a specific configuration as long as the conductor 20 is electrically insulated relative to other parts of the conductor 20 and, if necessary, from the substrate 30 (and/or the subject).

[0022] The conductor 20 is preferably fastened to a distensible backing material 30 that only encircles a portion of the chest or abdomen of a human subject. A strap (or straps) of non-distensible material 40 is attached to the distensible material 30 so as to encircle the subject. The conductor 20 is connected to a toroidal impedance matching transformer 50 (which is also attached to the distensible material 30) and by two conductors 52 to the remote electronics circuit 24 which is able to convert inductance changes in the conductor band 20 to a voltage which is proportional to the change in circumference of the subject, as is known and used in the art.

[0023] Another advantage of the asymmetric inductive band of the present invention is that it can be easily manufactured using conventional sewing machines, in contrast with conventional symmetric inductive bands which require special apparatus to manufacture such bands, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,012. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a top piece of distensible material 30A is placed over a bottom piece of distensible material 30B, and two vertical rows of stitching 55 are sewn into the material using a conventional sewing machine, to form a pocket 60 for each hairpin 25. The conductor 20 is bent into shape on a jig, and each hairpin 25 is placed into a pocket 60 to hold the hairpin 25 in position while the perimeter 57 of the band 10 is sewn. Because no stitching needs to cross the band itself, a conventional sewing machine can be used to make the inductive band of the present invention.

[0024] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An inductive band for monitoring respiration in a subject, comprising: an elongate conductor having a first end and a second end; and a distensible conductor support substrate in supporting relation to the elongate conductor with the first and second end spaced from a midpoint of said elongate conductor; wherein the elongate conductor comprises an alternating series of offset apex features and periodic conductor features, and said offset apex features share an intermediate axis between the periodic conductor features.
 2. An inductive band according to claim 1, wherein the elongate conductor comprises a single closed loop.
 3. An inductive band according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the alternating series of offset apex features overlap one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the conductor.
 4. An inductive band according to claim 1, further comprising a non-distensible band, wherein the distensible band is coupled to the non-distensible band with at least one selected from a group comprising: a pair of hook and loop patch material, a buckle, a portion of friction fitting material, a knot, a button, a cleat, a length of stitching, an adhesive, a zipper and the like.
 5. An inductive band according to claim 1, wherein the offset apex features are formed in the shape of a hairpin with a partial loop at a distal end of each apex feature and a pair of closely spaced legs extending therefrom.
 6. An inductive band according to claim 1, wherein the distensible conductor support is the epidermis of a subject and the conductor is attached with adhesive material or adhesive backed tape to said epidermis.
 7. An inductive band according to claim 1, wherein the elongate conductor is metallic.
 8. An improved inductive band transducer, comprising: an electrical conductor having a first portion, an intermediate transition, and a second portion; a distensible conductor support substrate in supporting relation to the electrical conductor; and a transformer electrically coupled to each end of the electrical conductor; wherein the first portion of the electrical conductor has a first series of apex features and the second portion has a second series of apex features, and said first series and said second series overlap an intermediate longitudinal axis that intersects the intermediate transition and the transformer.
 9. An inductive band according to claim 8, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a single closed loop.
 10. An inductive band according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first series of apex features and at least one of the second series of apex features are formed in the shape of a hairpin.
 11. An inductive band according to claim 8, wherein the electrical conductor is disposed in a series of pockets or loops formed in the distensible conductor support substrate.
 12. An inductive band according to claim 8, wherein the electrical conductor is formed of an electrically conducting polymer material.
 13. An inductive band according to claim 8, wherein the electrical conductor is woven or stitched into the distensible conductor support substrate.
 14. An improved inductive band electrical conductor trace pattern, comprising: a first length of conductive material; and a second length of conductive material; wherein a first end of each said length of conductive material are coupled together and said second end of each said length of conductive material is electrically coupled to an electrical transformer and a portion of said first length and said second length are configured so that each overlaps the other in relation to an intermediate axial axis therebetween.
 15. A self-inductance sensor for measuring the change in circumference of an object, comprising: an elongate conductor having a series of geometric shapes formed therein and wherein at least one of said geometric shapes is hairpin-shaped.
 16. An self-inductance sensor for measuring a change in circumference of an object, comprising: an elongate conductor having a series of geometric shapes formed therein and wherein at least one of said geometric shapes has a first straight leg portion closely spaced from a second straight leg portion and an apex portion connects the first straight leg portion to the second straight leg portion.
 17. An self-inductance sensor according to claim 16, wherein the apex portion comprises a substantially semi-circular portion having a common radius.
 18. A self-inductance sensor for measuring a change in circumference of an object, comprising: an elongate conductor having a series of geometric shapes formed therein and wherein at least one of said geometric shapes has a first straight leg portion disposed substantially parallel to and closely spaced from a second straight leg portion; and, an apex portion of the elongate conductor connects the first straight leg portion to the second straight leg portion and said apex portion is shaped like the letter “C.”
 19. A self-inductance sensor according to claim 18, wherein the series of geometric shapes of a first portion of the elongate conductor and a second portion of the elongate conductor are disposed in a spaced apart relationship and a part of the series of geometric shapes of said first portion overlap a common longitudinal axis disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the elongate conductor.
 20. A self-inductance sensor according to claim 18, wherein the first leg portion and the second leg portion are capable of diverging from each other when the circumference of the object increases.
 21. A self-inductance sensor according to claim 20, wherein said diverging causes a change in an inductance of the conductor. 